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Margaret and Larry. Larry and Margaret.
It’s hard to mention one without the other, they’re such a tight couple. They also happen to be Ottawa’s primo party hosts, putting their teamwork to the test each June by throwing a series of summer cocktail receptions each year at their elegant Old Ottawa South home overlooking the Rideau Canal.

The Dickensons make it look like a piece of cake, of the fanciest-schmanciest kind, but the behind-the-scenes work includes everything from preparing the food to getting the garden ready to clearing out furniture to create more space to setting up the bar to hauling out the glassware to folding hundreds of tiny napkins. Why do they put in so much effort? For them, the parties are a way of returning the warm hospitality so often extended to them. And they do it so well.

This year, Margaret and Larry Dickenson organized three cocktail dînatoires over three consecutive Sundays, spending a couple of weeks getting ready for reach one.
Larry, a former Canadian ambassador, was on hand to greet arriving guests and make them feel welcomed. Margaret, a successful cookbook author and entertaining expert, was busy serving food that was visually appealing, scrumptious to the palate and quick to disappear from her decorative platters.

Each party draws a diverse mix of people from the worlds of foreign diplomacy, business, arts, food and media. Former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley, now head of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, attended the most recent reception with his wife, Judith. Also sighted were cellist and Music and Beyond artistic and executive director Julian Armour, TV executive Colette Watson, Ottawa chef Michael Blackie, businessman Kenneth Loeb and builders John and Shirley Westeinde, who’ve just put their beautiful beachfront home in Nepean up for sale through Grapevine. They’re downsizing to a downtown condo, being built by their developer sons.

Guests are seen mingling at an annual summer cocktail reception hosted by Larry and Margaret Dickenson on Sunday, June 22, 2014 in Old Ottawa South. The party was one of three that the couple threw on consecutive Sundays during the month of June. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, John Westeinde, Shirley Westeinde and Katherine Jeans attended a summer cocktail reception hosted by Larry and Margaret Dickenson at their Old Ottawa South home on Sunday, June 22, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Food and entertaining expert Margaret Dickenson was seen serving her homemade hors d’oeuvres at a reception she hosted with her husband, retired diplomat Larry Dickenson, at their Old Ottawa South home on Sunday, June 22, 2104. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, Canadian cellist and artistic director Julian Armour with TV personality Derick Fage and Fage’s wife, Monika Palitza-Fage, on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at one of the annual summer cocktail receptions organized and hosted by Larry and Margaret Dickenson at their Old Ottawa South home. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, Deborah French, Judith Manley and contractor Guy French were among the attendees of an annual summer cocktail reception hosted by Larry and Margaret Dickenson at their Old Ottawa South home on Sunday, June 22, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Seen chatting were Ottawa businessmen Kenneth Loeb, left, and John Westeinde, on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at one of the annual summer cocktail receptions hosted by retired diplomat Larry Dickenson and his wife, Margaret, a food and entertaining expert. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

John Westeinde and Shirley Westeinde chat with Penny Reedie at a summer cocktail reception hosted by Margaret and Larry Dickenson at their Old Ottawa South home on Sunday, June 22, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, TV executive Colette Watson with her son, James Watson, and Blair Dickerson on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at an annual reception hosted by Larry and Margaret Dickenson at their Old Ottawa South home. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, Leyla Argun, and Ottawa publishers Cu Van Ha and Anne Marie Creskey try some of Margaret Dickenson’s canapés on a spoon during a summer cocktail reception she hosted with her husband, Larry Dickenson, at their Old Ottawa South home on Sunday, June 22, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, hostess Margaret Dickenson serves Christina Gillies some of her own recipes at a summer cocktail reception she hosted with her husband, Larry Dickenson, at their Old Ottawa South home on Sunday, June 22, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

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It was all fringe, feathers, pearls and curls at the Great Gatsby Party recently hosted by Gary and Kornelia Lacey for the OutCare Foundation at their home in the Westboro area.
More than 60 guests attended the party, generously catered by Chef Mark Esguerra of Stella Osteria. “I brought a lot of food and I don’t want to bring it back to the restaurant, so please don’t be shy,” he told guests.
The crowd mingled by the backyard pool and wandered out front to admire a pair of vintage cars on display for the themed party. The 1923 Star belonged to Réal Meilleur and the 1936 Auburn to Rick Soderstrom.
The $5,000 proceeds were presented to the OutCare Foundation, a local charity that provides support to regional palliative care services and programs. Receiving the ceremonial cheque was Kim Devooght, past board chair of the OutCare Foundation and a vice president with Cisco Canada.
“Dying is part of living; it’s part of the circle of life,” said Devooght. “We’ve all been through it, with our family and our friends, and we’re all going to go through it ourselves, and the more we can embrace the situation with knowledge the better equipped we are to deal with it.”
Guests included Justice Joe E. Hershfield from the Tax Court of Canada and such OutCare Foundation board members as federal assistant deputy minister Kin Choi, retired health care executive Jocelyne Contant, Browns Cleaners owner Brian MacGregor and Dr. Ian Warrack. Also in attendance was the foundation’s executive director, Lisa Davey. Board chair John Bradley, owner of J.T. Bradley’s in Navan, couldn’t be there but provided all the wine. Also donated were the services of local high school students as musicians and servers.
Gary, executive director of capital stewardship for the National Capital Commission, and Kornelia, who’s from Germany, have hosted several charity events in the form of 10-course wild game dinners (the couple, married two years, like to hunt and ice-fish together).
Their elegant gourmet dinners feature a smorgasbord of wild game dishes, such as bear borscht, moose bourguignon, wild Canada goose cooked in Grand Marnier sauce and breast of pheasant poached in white wine.

Hosts Kornelia and Gary Lacey with OutCare Foundation executive director Lisa Davey at the Great Gatsby-themed benefit party held Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Westboro. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Dr. Ian Warrack and his wife, Monique, pose next to a 1936 Auburn on display at a Great Gatsby-themed party held in Westboro on Saturday, June 21, 2014, in support of the OutCare Foundation. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, Trevor Bhupsingh, Kornelia Lacey, Fern Hershfield and Justice Joe E. Hershfield at a Great Gatsby fundraising reception held in Westboro on Saturday, June 21, 2014 in support of the OutCare Foundation, a charity that supports regional palliative care. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Kornelia and Gary Lacey welcome guests to a fundraising reception they hosted at their Westboto home in support of the OutCare Foundation on Saturday, June 21, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Kornelia Lacey with Kim Devooght, past chair of the OutCare Foundation board, with the ceremonial cheque representing funds raised at the Great Gatsby Party hosted by Lacey and her husband, Gary Lacey, at their home in Westboro on Saturday, June 21, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Brian MacGregor and his wife, Bonni, at a fundraising reception held Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Westboro for the OutCare Foundation. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Jocelyne Contant and Richard Bisson were volunteer bartenders at the Great Gatsby-themed party for the OutCare Foundation, held Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Westboro. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Kim Devooght, past chair of the OutCare Foundation board, and his wife, Barbara Kieley, at the Great Gatsby benefit party held Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Westboro. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Chef Mark Esguerra of Stella Osteria addresses the crowd at the Great Gatsby-themed fundraiser for the OutCare Foundation, held Saturday, June 21, 2014, at the private home of Kornelia and Gary Lacey. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, Trevor Bhupsingh and Marc Gagnon at a Great Gatsby-themed reception held Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Westboro in support of the OutCare Foundation. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From right, Stella Osteria executive chef Mark Esguerra takes a kitchen break with his colleague, Sabrina Madore, to sip some bubbly with Marius Eisfeld, one of the guests of a Great Gatsby themed party held for the OutCare Foundation on Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Westboro. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

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Summertime, and the livin’ was easy at the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival’s VIP tent Friday night.
Dozens gathered there for a reception hosted by prominent businesswoman Sheila Whyte, owner of Thyme & Again. The company has been the official catering sponsor for the festival’s VIP tent for at least 16 years.
Whyte and her husband, Clayton Kennedy, invited friends and clients to the party.

The evening, blessed with idyllic weather, featured Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite on the festival main stage in Confederation Park.
“Tonight is about taking a break and celebrating summer,” Whyte told Around Town.
Guests ranged from prominent lawyer and humanitarian Warren Creates to Rick Watson, who manages the kitchen at The Ottawa Mission shelter, to journalist Chris Cobb, who certainly gets around on the music festival circuit; he’s just put out a new book chronicling 20 years of Ottawa Bluesfest.

Invited guests enjoyed the live music, fresh air and fun at a reception held in the VIP tent Friday, June 27, 2014, during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, lawyer and humanitarian Warren Creates with party hosts Sheila Whyte from Thyme & Again and her husband, Clayton Kennedy, in the VIP tent on Friday, June 27, 2014, during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Peter Honeywell from the Council for the Arts in Ottawa with arts adviser Natalie Stern at a reception hosted in the VIP tent during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Elizabeth Kaulbeck and her husband David Caulfield attended a reception hosted in the VIP tent during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, Michael Scrivens, Heather Bradley, Karen Reynolds and Dr. Jonathan Angel hung out at the VIP tent during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Ottawa Citizen journalist Chris Cobb with his wife, Margot Sunter from Ginsberg Gluzman Fage & Levitz, in the VIP tent on Friday, June 27, 2014, during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, Ottawa sommelier Debbie Trenholm with Leslie Coates in the VIP tent on Friday, June 27, 2014, during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Rick Watson, chef and manager of food services at The Ottawa Mission, with his colleague, Kristyn Berquist, enjoyed themselves Friday, June 27, 2014, at the VIP tent during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Joseph Cull is flanked by Carolyn Hunter, left, from the Ottawa School Breakfast Program and Renata Soutter from Propeller Dance at a reception held in the VIP tent held during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Wall Space Gallery co-owners Tom Barr and Patricia Barr at a reception held in the VIP tent during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

From left, journalist and editor Jenn Campbell with her husband, Ottawa Citizen arts-editor-at-large Peter Simpson, and TD Ottawa Jazz Festival board member Tom Burrow and sommelier Debbie Trenholm in the VIP tent on Friday, June 27, 2014, during the festival. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Jeff Mains from Centrepointe Theatre with his wife, Debra Beauregard, at a party held Friday, June 27, 2014, during the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)

Michael Potter threw a soirée last Monday that was out of this world – and not just because retired astronaut Chris Hadfield was there.

Potter, founder of Vintage Wings of Canada and honorary colonel of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, had some 140 friends and supporters over to his galaxy-sized property in Rockcliffe Park following a successful youth summit that day featuring Hadfield.

Guests included members of the famed Snowbirds, Gen. Tom Lawson, chief of defence staff, and retired Lt. Gen. Steve Lucas, a former chief of Canada’s air force. University of Ottawa president Allan Rock attended, as did Carleton University president Roseann O’Reilly Runte and British High Commissioner Howard Drake.

Partygoers gravitated toward Hadfield, who’s just been named to the Order of Canada. The national hero was seen chatting comfortably with guests at the soirée, held in Potter’s beautiful backyard.

The former commander of the International Space Station earned rave reviews from those guests who’d been at the summit that day and heard Hadfield deliver his highly motivational speech to several hundred young people from the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa.

The event, held at the Gatineau Airport, was hosted by Vintage Wings, a not-for-profit charitable organization. It aims to inspire, educate and commemorate through its collection of vintage aircraft.

Hadfield told Around Town the best part of his day was talking to the youth and encouraging them to shoot for the moon. His young audience was absorbed by his speech despite the temperatures, which soared higher than a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet.

“Even though it was a hot room on a summer’s day, they were dead quiet, with no snoring, and listening closely with an unlimited number of questions at the end,” said Hadfield. “It was really, really fun and I really enjoyed it.”

Vintage Wings volunteer pilot Joe Cosmano got to talking at lunchtime with some of the kids from the Boys and Girls Club, to see what they had learned from Hadfield’s morning presentation. A teenaged girl proved she’s no space cadet. “She said, ‘You know, you can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it’.

“That was a really powerful thing,” said Cosmano with a smile. “That girl – she got it.”

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The grass is always greener at the Elmdale Lawn Bowling Club, especially when it’s teeming with young professionals decked out in fedoras, clown suits and pink ballerina tutus.

Such was the fun-loving scene Wednesday when a costumed crowd of about 160 kicked off the second annual Lawn Summer Nights, a lawn bowling tournament that takes place each Wednesday in July to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

This year’s event sold out almost instantly. “People really enjoyed it last year and we’re hoping it keeps growing from here,” said Meredith Taylor, a consultant at Environics Communications. She’s co-chairing the fundraiser with Alexandra Gagnier, a consultant at Deloitte.

The event raised more than $35,000 in Ottawa last year and organizers hope to bump the total up to $60,000 this summer.

Lawn Summer Nights was started in memory of Eva Markvoort, a young woman from New Westminster, BC who died in 2010 from cystic fibrosis at the age of 25. It’s now being held in seven cities across the country.

The unique tournament brings together Parliament Hill staff of all political stripes with folks from the cystic fibrosis and business communities for a night of bowling and beer with buddies.

Wednesday’s heavy downpour did put a damper on things but it was all rainbows and even romance once the clouds closed back up. Several teams stuck around after the rain to practise (one couple briefly slow danced on the greens while the smooth sounds of Louis Armstong filled the air).

The guest speaker was Max McGuire, the Ottawa-native filmmaker behind the 2012 semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age movie Foreverland. The film, which toured across Canada, the United States and parts of Europe, is about a young man with cystic fibrosis who goes searching for a miracle cure for the genetic and chronic disorder.

McGuire spoke personally about what it’s been like to live with CF, a disease that’s motivated him to live his life with purpose and that’s shaped who he is today. “I know what it’s like to have an expiry date,” he told the crowd.

“I used to say that CF doesn’t own me, I own it, but if I’m honest with myself that’s only actually half true because ever since I can remember CF has been a major part of every decision I’ve ever made.
“It’s been the voice of reason that sometimes youth distracts you from. It’s been the internal curfew that makes you go to bed a couple hours early or maybe put down that drink before your friends do,” said McGuire.

Roughly 4,000 Canadians live with CF. The condition affects several organs, namely the lungs, eventually rendering them useless. Today, 50 per cent of Canadians with cystic fibrosis are expected to live into their late 40s and beyond and increasingly more children and teens with the illness are surviving to adulthood. In the 1960s, most children with CF did not even live long enough to start school.

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“Get your dancing shoes ready!” Vicki Heyman enthusiastically urged some 3,000 guests of the Fourth of July shindig she hosted with her husband, U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman, at their official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Friday.

Moments later, the fun and friendly couple was seen cutting some serious rug on the dance floor at what was their first American Independence Day in Ottawa.

There was nothing stuffy nor pretentious about this bash, billed as a Great American Picnic. It wasn’t even considered a true party unless you left with a little BBQ sauce on your top — which should’ve been white if you followed the suggested dress code.

“Oh my gosh, how many people pulled me aside and said, ‘What is summer white?’,” the ambassador told the crowd. “Believe me, I had trouble, too. I had to Google it.”

Heyman, who’s only been in Ottawa for a few months, told his audience that he’s committed to listening to and learning from Canadians and that he can’t wait to travel around and see more of the country during his posting.

“For Vicki and me, it’s just such a privilege and honour to be here in Canada for the 4th of July, a country that cherishes the very same values and ideals: liberty and democracy, peace and freedom,” said Heyman. He expressed his gratitude to Canadians, calling us his country’s “true friend through thick and thin, through bitter and sweet.”

Also showing good cooperation, by the way, was the weather — a very important part of every outdoor party. Guests, when not posting Tweets and Instagrams, helped themselves at various drink and food stations, catered by the National Arts Centre. The menu included BBQ pork ribs, sliders, hot dogs, grilled chicken, salads, corn bread, Chicago cheesecake, watermelon and ice cream sundaes.

TV broadcaster Catherine Clark with her husband, Chad Schella, at the U.S. Embassy’s annual Fourth of July party held at ambassador’s official residence, Lornado, in Rockcliffe Park on Friday, July 4, 2014. (

The Heymans spent about an hour receiving guests by shaking hands, exchanging hugs and kissing cheeks. Making their way through the line was former prime minister Joe Clark with his wife, Maureen McTeer, and their daughter, Catherine Clark, and her husband, Chad Schella.

From left, Vicki Heyman and U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman with a gift from Mayor Jim Watson and Deputy Mayor Steve Desroches at the embassy’s annual Independence Day party held Friday, July 4, 2014, in Rockcliffe.

Mayor Jim Watson and Deputy Mayor Steve Desroches came bearing the gift of a framed photo taken earlier that day of the four of them at a USA flag raising ceremony at City Hall.

Former Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor chats with TV broadcaster Catherine Clark at the U.S. Embassy’s annual Independence Day party, held in Rockcliffe Park on Friday, July 4, 2014.

Attendees also included former Canadian ambassador to Iran Ken Taylor, who was feeling right at home at the embassy party. He protected Americans at great personal risk during the 1979 Iran Hostage crisis (the focus of the Oscar-winning film Argo and the Canadian documentary Our Man in Tehran).

The U.S.-Canadian relationship is very unique, said Taylor, who has lived for 38 years in the United States but remains a Canadian citizen. “It’s difficult to describe because you fall back on words you hear over and over and over,” he told Around Town.

“At the same time, the essence is that there is no other relationship between two countries such as the U.S. and Canada.” It’s a bond that cannot be taken for granted and requires nurturing, he added. “There are going to be disappointments, there are going to be arguments.” Just like a marriage? “Just like a marriage,” he agreed.

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It was water, water everywhere at the second annual high tea hosted Sunday by business consultant Don Walsh and his wife, Robin Stewart, for Ryan’s Well Foundation — a grassroots charity that’s all about getting clean and safe water to developing countries.
The couple opened up their picturesque Plaisance, Que., waterfront property overlooking the Ottawa River to more than 80 guests, many of whom raised their pinkies and sipped from their dainty cups beneath the shade of a magnificent 400-year-old oak tree.
Stewart, who’s on the board of directors for the Ryan’s Well Foundation, was able to use her professional expertise in home staging and decorating to add a splash of style and creativity. In keeping with the water theme, there was a bucket of free river water available to drink by the shore (as if) and another pail with $1 bottled water over by the apple tree. If you wanted the good stuff — a water cocktail with ice, lime and mint — it cost $5 (not that frugal but thirsty souls were deprived of H2O at any time during the party). Guests also had fun getting their pictures snapped in costume at an outdoor photo booth, bidding on auction items and being served champagne.

Attendees included the village’s mayor, Paulette Lalande, and Jane Baird, executive director of the Ryan’s Well Foundation. Also from the charity was its volunteer board chair, Shawn McCarthy, national business correspondent for the Globe and Mail, and health professional Kelly Arnott.
In high demand was Ryan’s Well founder Ryan Hreljac, 23, seen mingling with guests throughout the event. The young man is currently living in Ottawa and has just finished a contract with the Youth Ottawa empowerment organization for young people.
Back when Hreljac was a six-year-old kid living in Kemptville he set his mind to raising enough money to build a well in Africa. His first well was dug in Angolo Public School in northern Uganda in 1999. As a result of his hard work, the Ryan’s Well Foundation was set up in 2001 and has gone on to help more than 800,000 people through its 878 water projects and 1,120 latrines in 16 countries.
“A lot of people just don’t know the story, and it’s such a beautiful story,” said Walsh, who wants to make their benefit an annual one to continue raising awareness and funds for the cause.
This past May, Hreljac returned to the site of his first well in Uganda, captured in video footage that is heartwarming and inspiring to watch. The experience left Hreljac energized.
“If you do something for so long, you can almost lose touch with why you originally started it, so it was nice to re-connect,” said Hreljac, who continues to volunteer with Ryan’s Well and sit on the board.
Hreljac publicly thanked everyone for coming out to the fundraiser and supporting a team effort that’s “making the world a little more fair, a little more equal”.
Last year’s high tea raised almost $6,000 and organizers were hoping to double that amount this time around. All proceeds are helping to build rainwater harvesting tanks for the Maasai women of Kenya.

The last time Around Town dropped into Alex Beraskow‘s beautiful home in the Glebe it was in 2012, when he prepared a big dinner for 35 in support of the performing arts.

Last week, he was back in the kitchen, except that he had even more mouths to feed: 60 (a mere mention of this attendance number causes him to dramatically bite his knuckle).
Artichoke dip, shrimp, beef, pulled pork, smoked and ginger-glazed salmon, and a variety of salads and desserts were among the dishes Beraskow whipped up.

“He gets a little nervous but he’s good,” Patti Blute assured me. She helped organize the $90-a-ticket fundraiser for Ottawa Singers.
The new arts group aims to keep things fun and entertaining by debuting in 2015 at the National Arts Centre with a performance of Sir Paul McCartney‘s Liverpool Oratorio. It will feature more than 100 choristers and soloists. Organizers have every expectation that it will be a sell-out show.

From left, Janine Dudding and Susan Sweeney Herman from Acacia Lyra perform at a private dinner reception in the Glebe held for Ottawa Singers on Thursday, August 7, 2014.

Bill Caswell, board chair of Ottawa Singers, welcomes guests to a fundraising dinner reception held Thursday, August 7, 2014, in the Glebe.

Support has thus far been tremendous, said the board chair, Bill Caswell. “We’re probably the only arts group in the world that’s got money in the bank and we haven’t sung a note yet,” he quipped.

The artistic director is Ty Paterson, who recently stepped down as long-time artistic director and principal conductor of Ottawa Lyra Ottawa (although he’ll be waving the baton next month for the company’s production of Puccini’s famous Tosca).

Dr. David Greenberg and his wife, Rochelle, at a fundraising dinner reception held in the Glebe on Thursday, August 7, 2014, in support of Ottawa Singers.

From left, Ute Davis with Russell Mills and his wife, Judy, at an inaugural fundraising event held in the Glebe on Thursday, August 7, 2014, in support of Ottawa Singers.

From left, Anne Rutherford with her husband, Superior Court Justice Douglas Rutherford, and Jeanne d’Arc Sharp at a dinner reception for Ottawa Singers held in the Glebe, overlooking Brown’s Inlet Park, on Thursday, August 7, 2014.

The Ottawa Singers’ ambitious project will be the first of its kind for our city, and the group is keen to get as many artists as possible involved in the collaboration.
“It’s something that probably most organizations could not do on their own,” said Paterson. He cited the NAC, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Laurence Ewashko Singers, Opera Lyra Chorus, Matthew Larkin’s boys choir and the University of Ottawa as some of the group they’ll be working with. “It’s not just about us, it’s about all of us.”

From left, Alex Beraskow, seen with Patti Blute, Peter Herrndorf and Bill Caswell, hosted a dinner reception for 60 at his Glebe home on Thursday, August 7, 2014, in support of Ottawa Singers and its plans to perform Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio in 2015.

Host Alex Beraskow, with assistance from Patti Blute, was busy in the kitchen at a fundraising dinner he held Thursday, August 7, 2014, in support of the Ottawa Singers and its upcoming performance of the Liverpool Oratorio in 2015.

Attendees included podiatrist David Greenberg and his wife, Rochelle, as well as Superior Court Justice Douglas Rutherford and his wife, Anne. They were seen in conversation with arts donor Jeanne d’Arc Sharp on the balcony overlooking Brown’s Inlet Park. Other notable guests included NAC president and CEO Peter Herrndorf, communications consultant Barry McLoughlin, arts supporters Glenn and Barb McInnes, and Russ Mills, who recently retired as dean of the faculty of arts, media and design, at Algonquin College. He’s still keeping busy, though, as chair of the National Capital Commission.

From left, Martin Masse with fellow Ottawa Singers board member Jason Stanley and Stanley’s wife, Anna Hoefnagels, at a fundraising dinner held Thursday, August 7, 2014, in the Glebe.

The dinner reception featured an intimate performance from Ottawa-based Acacia Lyra harp and voice duo Susan Sweeney Hermon and Janine Dudding.

Ottawa Singers has more events on the horizon, including a gala auction taking place at the swanky Rideau Club on Oct. 25.

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Everyone — from the chefs to the guests to the animals themselves — deserved a big round of “apaws” for supporting the Ottawa Humane Society’s 14th annual Summer Harvest Garden Party that took place at City Hall’s Jean Pigott Place this past Sunday.

Close to 250 people turned out for the $125-a-ticket party. It raised $42,500 to help care for the thousands of homeless animals that end up at the shelter each year.

The foodie event featured yummy cuisine from star chefs, including Tim Wasylko from the Prime Minister’s Residence, John Morris from the National Arts Centre and Kenton Leier from the Westin Hotel. Salt, Grounded Kitchen and Coffeehouse, Zen Kitchen, El Camino were also among the 17 participating venues.

Chef Matthew Carmichael from El Camino fists bumps future master chef Zachary Rochon, three, at the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

National Arts Centre executive chef John Morris with sous chef Tanya Whelan at the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall in honour of the late Chef Kurt Waldele.

Westin Hotel executive chef Kenton Leier with his daughters, Cadence, 10, and Annabelle, seven, at the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall in honour of the late Chef Kurt Waldele.

The fundraiser was held in honour of its founder, the late Kurt Waldele. The animal lover was the former head chef of the NAC and was well-respected and liked by all. His peers and protégés have banded together since Waldele’s death five years ago to keep his fundraising feast going.

In the crowd was Robert Bourassa, former chef and owner of Café Henry Burger and a personal friend of Waldele’s. He was the event’s honourary chair for many years.

Veteran chef Robert Bourassa and Liz Nowak at the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual garden party in honour of the late Chef Kurt Waldele, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

“It’s a key event in my social calendar,” he told Around Town. “I have found it’s one of the best opportunities to get many great chefs in this city together, and the camaraderie has been wonderful. One would think it would be very competitive but there’s such an openness here.”

The afternoon event featured a silent and live auction, but what stole the show was the parade of lovable dogs, plus one cat named Rosie, from the OHS’s Brightening Lives program. Afterward, the leashed animals rubbed furry elbows with the guests.

Victoria Nicholson and her big sister Jacqueline bonded with Monty, a seven-year-old-beagle, at the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held at City Hall’s Jean Pigott Place on Sunday, August 10, 2014.

Dominique Lalonde from the Ottawa Humane Society with Navi at the OHS’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

Partygoer Sarah Hunter strokes Rosie, a volunteer cat in the Brightening Lives program, at the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

Attendees of the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual garden party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall, mingled with some of the volunteer animals from the OHS’s Brightening Lives program.

Attendees included Sen. Marjory LeBreton and her sister, NCC board member Kay Stanley, food journalist Ron Eade, OHS chair Linda Barber, social butterflies Larry and Margaret Dickenson and food writer Gay Cook.

She blew a kiss to her late sister — former MP and NCC chair Jean Pigott, whose portrait hangs at the municipal venue named after her.

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Ottawa Humane Society board chair Linda Barber with executive director Bruce Roney at the OHS’s annual garden party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

From left, Larry Dickenson, Margaret Dickenson, Dr. Donna Maziak and Adam Tayler at the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

From left, Kay Stanley and her sister, Sen. Marjory LeBreton, are regular supporters of the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Harden Party, held Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

Food journalist Ron Eade welcomes guests to the Ottawa Humane Society’s annual Summer Harvest Garden Party, held in honour of the late Chef Kurt Waldele, on Sunday, August 10, 2014, at City Hall.

Last year, lawyer Gary Steinberg had been undergoing some tests and feeling unwell, so he and his wife, Sharon, were invited to a weekend away at David and Sara Lipnowski‘s cottage. So beautiful were the surroundings that Steinberg asked Sara if she could paint him a landscape in her artist studio.

Two days later, Steinberg, 67, went into hospital and never came out, so aggressive was his cancer. He died Nov. 14, 2013.

This summer, Lipnowski saw an opportunity to finally paint that landscape in memory of her dearly departed friend when she learned about an Epic Walk for Cancer Care benefit being organized by Isabelle Cantor and Avalee Prehogan. The women are vice-president and senior regional vice-president, respectively, at the Robert Half International staffing and recruiting firm.

The one-day, 28-km Epic Walk on Sept. 27 is a partnership between the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation (QCHF) and Bruyère Foundation.

Lipnowski donated her very lovely painting to the benefit, held last Wednesday. It sold to highest bidder Karin Bercovitch, who’s the director of finance for the cancer foundation.

Among the other 65-plus donated items were fur scarves, jewelry, a Greco membership, a designer handbag from Holt Renfrew and a pair of diamond hoop earrings. Krista Benoit scored a fur wrap scarf from Pat Flesher Furs that her boyfriend, Geoff Thompson, won as a raffle prize. “I didn’t walk in with this but I’m walking out with it,” she said with the cozy accessory wrapped around her neck.

Avalee and her husband, prominent lawyer and community builder Ron Prehogan, have organized an Epic Walk team as a tribute to Steinberg, with whom they were very close. Prehogan, who’s also chair of a capital campaign for the QCHF, was the busiest volunteer at the party, selling raffle tickets and serving drinks. “I do what I’m told,” the obedient husband said in the kitchen.

The fundraiser was held at the home of Isabelle and Allan Cantor in the Briargreen ‘hood of former Nepean, with Creative Kosher Catering sponsoring the food and pop singer Romy Mounzer providing live entertainment.

The party was originally expected to be small but the guest list kept growing, to more than 100, and the donations kept coming in. “I’m blown away by the generosity from the people in this community,” said Avalee.

Participants of the Epic Walk are required to raise at least $1,000 each. Avalee and Isabelle raised $4,000 that night and, with Robert Half International matching some of those funds, their total climbed to $6,000. Their team has so far reached $10,000, making them serious contenders for finishing at or near the top.

Celebrity hair and make-up artist Leslie-Anne Barrett with volunteer Sara Lipnowski at a fundraiser held on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, for the upcoming Epic Walk for Cancer Care.

There was no shortage of food donated by Creative Kosher Catering at a fundraiser held Wednesday, August 13, 2014, for the upcoming Epic Walk for Cancer Care.

Ottawa pop singer Romy Mounzer performed at an Epic Walk for Cancer fundraiser hosted by Isabelle Cantor and Avalee Prehogan on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.

Raffle prize winner Sandra Lavoy took home quite a haul from Farm Boy at a fundraiser held on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, to raise funds for the upcoming Epic Walk for Cancer Care.

Leeanne Alexander looks to a friend for a second opinion while buying jewerly at a private fundraiser held at a Nepean home on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, for the Epic Walk for Cancer Care.

Christine Shaikin with Ina Devine from Dunn’s Famous Deli at a fundraiser held Wednesday, August 13, 2014, in the Briarwood neighbourhood of old Nepean in support of the upcoming Epic Walk for Cancer Care.

Kim Curran, vice president with the Bruyëre Foundation, and Al Roberts, director of philanthropy at the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation, at a private fundraiser for the Epic Walk for Cancer Care, held Wednesday, August 13, 2014.

This painting by Sara Lipnowski, left, was bought by highest-bidder Karin Bercovitch at a fundraiser held Wednesday, August 13, 2014, in support of the upcoming Eric Walk for Cancer Care.

From left, co-host Isabelle Cantor, supporter Lori Chadnick, volunteer Ron Prehogan and co-host Avalee Prehogan, modelling a donated scarf from Pat Flesher Furs, at an Epic Walk for Cancer Care fundraiser held Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at Cantor’s home in Briargreen.

Prize winner Geoff Thompson wasted little time before handing over his new scarf from Pat Flesher Furs to his girlfriend, Krista Benoit, at a fundraiser held Wednesday, August 13, 2014, for the upcoming Epic Walk for Cancer Care.

The vintage lace-collar red dress that British war bride Jean Spear wore to her recent tea party was just like the one she had on in August 1941, the night a Canadian soldier approached her at a dance hall in the suburbs of London and asked her to dance.
That soldier is now her husband, George Spear.

The Ottawa couple celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary with a catered party held Aug. 22 with close friends and family in the backyard of their west-end home near the Ottawa River. The house was built years ago by Spear himself after they bought what was originally a summer cottage property.

George, 94, and Jean, 91, were escorted by a lone piper, Megan McIntosh, before settling in for an afternoon of memories and musings. Present were their children, Heather and Ian, as well as one of Jean’s “dearest friends”, Jeanne Fuller, widow of WWII naval war hero Thomas G. Fuller, with her developer son, Simon Fuller.

George Spear played “You Are My Sunshine” on his harmonica, while his wife, Jean, listened on, at their 72nd wedding anniversary tea, held Friday, August 22, 2014, in their Ottawa backyard.

George and Jean Spear told and listened to stories at their 72nd wedding anniversary tea, held Friday, August 22, 2014, in their Ottawa backyard.

George, 94, and Jean, 91, were escorted by a lone piper, Megan McIntosh, before settling in for an afternoon of memories and musings. Present were their children, Heather and Ian, as well as one of Jean’s “dearest friends”, Jeanne Fuller, widow of WWII naval war hero Thomas G. Fuller, with her developer son, Simon Fuller.

The Spears sat side by side, holding hands. After a champagne toast to celebrate the happy couple, the husband and wife cut the anniversary cake with George’s bayonet from the war. The cake resembled the couple’s original wedding cake, which, due to strict food rationing in England, had to be shipped across the pond by George’s mother from Canada (unfortunately, the second parcel containing the sugar to ice the cake never arrived but they borrowed enough food coupons from others to get it done).

War bride Jean Spear and her WWII veteran husband, George, cut their 72nd wedding anniversary cake with his bayonet while surrounded by their children, Heather and Ian, on Friday, August 22, 2014.

War bride Jean Spear wore a red dress exactly like the one she had on when she first met her future husband, George Spear, with whom she celebrated her 72nd wedding anniversary on Friday, August 22, 2014.

George shared the story of the day he first met Jean and asked her to dance. “She looked down at my army boots and said, ‘I don’t know whether we can or not with those clodhoppers you’re wearing,” recalled George. “That was our introduction. I said, ‘Let’s give it a try’ and we did. And that was it.”
Later, he pulled out his harmonica and played Hail, Hail the Gang’s All Here and You Are My Sunshine. He’s “kind of a special guy,” Jean told her guests. “He’s a bit quiet, but that’s just as well.”

Now for the juicy part: the kiss. It was long and loving, just like their marriage.

A photo of George and Jean Spear on their wedding day was on display at the couple’s 72nd wedding anniversary tea, held Friday, August 22, 2014, at their home in Ottawa.

Developer Simon Fuller, seen with his mother, Jeanne Fuller, delivered an eloquent speech at a wedding anniversary party held Friday, August 22, 2014, in honour of George and Jean Spear.

Guests shared stories about George Spear and his wife, Jean, at the couple’s 72nd wedding anniversary party, held Friday, August 22, 2014, outside the west-end Ottawa house that Spear built himself.

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Prominent project manager Graham Bird belongs to a long line of family members who came into this world at The Ottawa Hospital. His connection doesn’t end there — the hospital is also where many of his loved ones turned for medical help when battling cancer, ALS and heart problems.
Now, for his third year in a row, Bird is undertaking a leadership role with Mary Jane Manley at the hospital foundation’s 13th annual President’s Breakfast, slated for September 16 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

The pair is back to co-chair the fundraiser, which brought in nearly $400,000 last year. Manley is a sales representative with Royal LePage Performance Realty but previously worked for about 15 years as a nurse.

Host Graham Bird welcomes guests to a reception he hosted with his wife, Cynthia, on Thursday, August 21, 2014, for volunteer table captains of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s upcoming charity breakfast.

Mary Jane Manley with Dr. Duncan Stewart and Graham Bird on Thursday, August 21, 2014, at reception held at Bird’s home for supporters of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s upcoming annual President’s Breakfast.

“I think the hospital is really important,” Bird told Around Town at a reception he hosted Aug. 21 with his wife, Cynthia, as a lead-up to the breakfast. The party was held at their home, just blocks away from the Civic campus.
What’s also important, he later told the room, “is that we get off our duffs and help them [the hospital and its team] out, and that we say ‘Thanks’ in person and a little bit with our wallets.”
Said Manley: “By supporting the hospital it’s really helping all of us. We’re all going to use it at some point in our lives.”

From left, Andrea Timlin from The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Dr. Duncan Stewart, event co-chairs Mary Jane Manley and Graham Bird all spoke at a reception hosted by Bird on Thursday, August 21, 2014, for volunteers table captains at the hospital’s upcoming charity breakfast.

Dozens of guests listened to Dr. Duncan Stewart talk about the exciting medical research that’s currently taking place in Ottawa. Stewart is the CEO and scientific director of The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and V-P of research at The Ottawa Hospital.
Invited to the reception were the volunteer table captains whose role it is to bring friends and associates to the breakfast. The turnout is expected to be around 500 and the aim is to enlighten and engage the crowd.

Greg Kane, past chair of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, chats with fellow lawyer Margaret Ross during a private reception held Thursday, August 21, 2014, to thank volunteer table captains for the hospital’s upcoming fundraising breakfast.

Tim Kluke, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, with supporter Joanne Snell at a private reception hosted Thursday, August 21, 2014, for table captains helping with the hospital’s upcoming charity breakfast.

From left, Marion Balla and Marg Campbell were among the guests of a reception hosted Thursday, August 21, 2014, for table captain volunteers with The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s upcoming charity breakfast.

Nancy Oakes and Kent Kirkpatrick at a reception hosted Thursday, August 21, 2014, for volunteer table captains with the The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s upcoming President’s Breakfast.

Dr. Duncan Stewart, CEO and scientific director of The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, talks about the medical progress being made in Ottawa during a private reception held Thursday, August 21, 2014, in advance of the hospital’s fundraising breakfast.

Among the volunteers there were Ottawa City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick, siblings Dan and Nancy Oakes, Gowlings partner Margaret Ross and therapist Marion Balla. The hospital foundation’s president and CEO, Tim Kluke, and its past board chair, Dentons lawyer Greg Kane, also attended.

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Eight brave souls aren’t just stepping away from their comfort zone — they’re high-kicking their way out to be part of the 4th Annual Dancing with Easter Seals Stars.

The $150-a-ticket gala is happening Friday, Oct. 17th, in the Trillium Ballroom of the Ottawa Convention Centre, and aims to raise $100,000 for charity. The glamorous evening, presented by Tamarack Homes, will see hundreds of guests come together for cocktails and dinner, topped off with a razzle-dazzle dance contest featuring local TV and radio hosts, a mountain climber, a sommelier, a retired hockey player and others.

This past Wednesday, though, it was all practise, practise, practise at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in the Glebe. That’s where this year’s dancers spent nearly an hour working on their routines with their dance partners, all of whom are instructors there.

Melissa Krulick, who runs the studio with business partner Dan Labelle, sees no clear front-runner in sight. “I think it’s a very competitive group,” she said.

Dan Labelle and Mary Anne Ivison practise at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Wednesday, September 4, 2014, for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars gala.

Actually, it was Liza Mrak‘s competitive streak, along with her prior lack of dancing chops, that made her reluctant to get involved. Mrak, who is co-owner of the Mark Motors of Ottawa luxury car dealership, was worried about making a fool of herself in public. She was asked to do it by Krulick, with whom she sits on the Viennese Opera Ball committee.

The former varsity athlete changed her mind after learning more about Easter Seals and the support it provides to children with physical disabilities and their families.
Mrak has not only surpassed the $1,000 fundraising mark set for each celebrity dancer but upped her goal to $5,000.

“I want to make a statement that is, essentially, about pulling yourself out of your comfort zone as well as doing something small that will make a difference for other people,” she told Around Town.
Mrak is performing a waltz and swing dance with Chris Drumm. During their rehearsal, she was lifted high into the air, swung through her partner’s legs and dipped low to the floor.

Liza Mrak, co-owner of Mark Motors, learns her waltz moves with dance partner Chris Drumm from Fred Astaire Dance Studio, at their practise held Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars.

Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructor Chris Drumm dips his dance partner, Liza Mrak, during a practise held Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars dance competition.

“She’s amazing,” remarked Drumm of her “super-cool work ethic”.

Mrak already has an edge over mountain climber Shawn Dawson, who broke his right foot just before Canada Day in a motorcycle accident on Carling Avenue. He’s keeping an eye on his injury, as he doesn’t want it to jeopardize plans to lead a team to the base camp of Mount Everest in April.

Local entrepreneur and mountain climber Shawn Dawson dips his dance partner, Melissa Krulick, while practising at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars.

Dawson plans to get his groove on while performing a tango and rumba with Krulick. He previously took lessons at the Fred Astaire studio, so he’s no two-left-footer (although, with his injury, maybe he wishes he was).

“I think a gentleman over 40 should know how to dance,” said Dawson, owner of Fatboys Southern Smokehouse and founder of the charitable Dream Mountains Foundation. “It’s not that I think I can strut it but I’d like to be comfortable taking my girl dancing.”

Also honing their moves were reporter Sarah Freemark from CTV Morning Live, host Derick Fage from Rogers community television, radio hosts Mary Anne Ivison from Country 101.1 and Shawn Simpson from TSN 1200.
Simpson, a former pro hockey player, worked up a serious sweat learning the samba. It’d been awhile since he danced (we’re talking Grade 8, tight jeans and Stairway to Heaven).

Sarah Freemark of CTV Morning Live and her dance partner, Jonathan Norton from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, practise their moves on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars dance competition.

Dance instructor Meaghan Cameron Doyle takes a spin with help from Derick Fage at their rehearsal, held Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars.

TV host Derick Fage from Rogers shows his serious side while rehearsing with dance partner Meaghan Cameron Doyle at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, in preparation for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars charity competition.

Dan Labelle from Fred Astaire Dance Studio practised with his dance partner, radio personality Mary Anne Ivison from Country 101.1, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, for the upcoming Dancing with Easter Seals Stars charity competition.

Shawn Simpson high fives his dance partner, Denise Allen.

“I’m totally out of my comfort zone,” Simpson ‘fessed up.

Not available to rehearse that day were Jean-Luc Boissonneault, founder of Free Form Fitness, and Savvy Company owner and sommelier Debbie Trenholm.

The pairs get 16 rehearsals to prepare for the big night. The couple with the right steps and style will clinch the dance title previously won by Olympic silver medalist skater Liz Manley and TV personalities Leanne Cusack and Lianne Laing, the latter of whom returns this year as a judge. The public can also vote online for their favourite dance couple, with a $20 donation.

For more information about the event, check http://www.easterseals.org/category/dancing.

It was a rock star-worthy night for photographer Jamie Kronick as a mass of music lovers and musicians turned out for the opening of his new art show, The Songwriter, at the Ottawa Art Gallery Annex.

“It feels pretty surreal,” Kronick told Around Town. “I’m in a room filled with my work and a lot of loved ones. It’s awesome.”

The exhibit features 20 portraits of local musicians captured in songwriting-mode. One of the subjects, Rolf Klausener from The Acorn indie folk band, told Around Town he agreed to have his photo taken, thinking it was going to be a very informal project.

“Seen it blown up [in size] is really humbling for me,” said Klausener. “As a musician who’s been playing in this city for a long time, it’s really nice to be recognized.”

Lead singer Rolf Klausener from The Acorn was “humbled” to be part of photographer Jamie Kronick’s new show at the OAG Annex and attended the vernissage on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014.

Mayor Jim Watson showed up and got a personal tour of the exhibit from the photographer himself. While perusing the art, the mayor was quick to notice that The Songwriter features his former neighbour, Maxim Cossette, from his one-time ‘hood of Old Ottawa South (sometimes, it just feels like the mayor knows everyone).

Mayor Jim Watson gets a personal tour of the new Songwriter exhibit at the OAG Annex, located at City Hall, by the artist, photographer Jamie Kronick, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014.

The photo of the banjo-playing Cossette was taken during a hectic and difficult time in the young man’s life, reflected by the mismatched socks, bearded face and clutter of guitars in the corner of the shot. That period of songwriting, he told Around Town, proved cathartic.

Cossette spoke highly of the exhibit and the way it brings together musicians in a very intimate way. “I feel like I’m part of a larger community in Ottawa, that’s a bit tighter than I thought,” he said.

From left, singer/songwriter John Allaire, seen with his photograph in the background, with music store owner Ian Boyd on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, at the vernissage for the new exhibit, Songwriter, at the OAG Annex.

Most of the artists in the exhibit have, coincidentally, performed in a regular singer-songwriter series run by veteran musician John Allaire, who’s also featured in the show. “What’s great about [The Songwriter] is that there’s actually a recognition that Ottawa is an awesome place,” said Allaire. “Ottawa has a scene and it’s a cool scene and it’s a supportive scene.”

Other attendees included the OAG’s director and CEO, Alexandra Badzak, the Citizen’s arts-editor-at-large, Peter Simpson, Compact Music store owner Ian Boyd and local music producer and sound engineer Dean Watson.
If you’re wondering who else Kronick zoomed in on, there’s Kathleen Edwards, Ian Tamblyn, Jim Bryson and Amanda Rheaume, just to name a few.

Alexandra Badzak, director and CEO of the Ottawa Art Gallery, with Peter Simpson, arts-editor-at-large for the Ottawa Citizen, at a vernissage held Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, for the new photographic exhibit Songwriter, now showing at the OAG Annex.

From left, Ottawa Art Gallery staff Taline Bedrossian and Rebecca Basciano on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, with colleague Stephanie Germano, the exhibit organizer for the Jamie Krulick’s new photographic show, Songwriter, at the OAG Annex.

From left, music lover Karen Keskinen and local music producer Dean Watson attended the vernissage held Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, at the OAG Annex for the new photographic show Songwriter.

The photographs remain on sale at the gallery, located at City Hall, until Oct. 12.

Everyone was able to laugh about it at Opera Lyra’s opening night party for Tosca but you could imagine the backstage drama that unfolded Saturday night when word first broke that one of the singers had suffered a severe allergic food reaction just before show time.

Conductor Tyrone Paterson learned the bad news only 10 minutes before the opera was to start at the National Arts Centre. Judith Ginsburg, whose job it is to coach the talent and accompany rehearsals on piano, filled in on stage for the ill singer’s minor role of henchman. “She actually looked really good with a beard,” Paterson joked at the reception.

The character’s lines were sung off stage by chorus member Chris Oliveira.

The ailing singer, tenor James McLennan, was taken by ambulance to hospital but appeared to be on the mend when, later that night, he sent a “selfie” of himself with his male physician and this comment: “At least I have a cute doctor”.

As for Ginsburg, she was on cloud nine. “It was exhilarating and it was thrilling to be part of the action and so close up with all the incredible singers,” she told Around Town.

Among the attendees were Supreme Court Justice Michael Moldaver, Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado and spouse Martine Laidin, and NAC board vice-chair Adrian Burns.

From left, Susannah Dalfen and Jonathan Malino with Ricky Moldaver and Supreme Court Justice Michael Moldaver at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, for the opening night of Tosca.

From left, Adrian Burns, vice-chair of the NAC board, with Maureen Eberts from Calgary at the opening night of Tosca at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.

On hand was Opera Lyra’s general director, John Peter “Jeep” Jeffries, who described Tosca as the perfect production for Ottawa. “The opera tells the tale of passion, political intrigue, power and corruption, at least of which three of those elements are present in great abundance in our local community,” he told the room.

John Peter “Jeep” Jeffries, general director of Opera Lyra Ottawa, with supporter Irma Sacha at the opening night of Tosca at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.

From left, bass-baritone Giles Tomkins, baritone Todd Thomas (Baron Scarpia), stage director Guy Montavon and tenor David Pomeroy (Mario Cavaradossi) from the production of Tosca at the opera’s opening night party held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 at the National Arts Centre.

Journalist Bob McKeown from CBC’s the fifth estate with Opera Lyra Ottawa honorary director Sarah Jennings at the opening of Tosca at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.

Kevin Mallon was there as the opera company’s new interim artistic director. He replaces Paterson, who held the position for 16 years, as well as the job of principal conductor and, for a time, general director.

Opera Lyra Ottawa staff Amanda Brown, left, and Maris Hughes pose with Kevin Mallon, the new interim artistic director of Opera Lyra Ottawa, at the opening night of Tosca at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.

Paterson delivered a heartfelt thank you to everyone and made a point of expressing what “a great privilege and honour” it’s been to work with the NAC Orchestra. “The company is in excellent hands and I wish the best success for the new regime coming in,” he said.

Victor Rabinovitch, chair of the board for Opera Lyra Ottawa, plants a playful kiss on honorary director Christina Cameron’s cheek at the opening night party for Tosca held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at the National Arts Centre.

Tosca also performs Sept. 8, 10 and 13.

Gracious hosts Grete Hale and Gay Cook were the latest to leap down the rabbit hole by opening up their family’s historic property on Sunday for an Alice in Wonderland-themed garden party full of mad hats, tea cups and that seemingly frustrating lawn game known as croquet.

The afternoon proved to be idyllic and whimsical as dozens of guests roamed the sisters’ beautiful backyard outside the home, which dates back to 1828 and is located near the Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital.
The party raised funds for PAL Ottawa, a volunteer-driven, non-profit charitable organization looking to create affordable housing and support services for aging, disabled and low-income arts professionals. It’s one of eight chapters across the country affiliated with PAL Canada.

From left, hosts Gay Cook and her sister, Grete Hale, welcomed guests to their historic home for The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa, on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.

“We’re not here to have fun; we’re here to enjoy ourselves doing something serious, which is a different thing,” PAL Ottawa board chair Jim Bradford joked after opening his remarks with a recitation of the Lewis Carroll poem You Are Old, Father William.

“As the media and Stats Can never stop telling us, we are living longer and this creates a problem: where to live and, for many people, how to live. In the arts, certainly, the cheques are not becoming more frequent; they’re not becoming bigger; they’re just staggering along as before.”

PAL Ottawa chair Jim Bradford with his wife, Meriel, at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at the Bayne-Morrison House in support of a new arts organization aimed at helping aging, low-income members of the arts community.

The party theme was a perfect compliment to the National Arts Centre’s upcoming English Theatre production of Alice Through the Looking Glass, running from Dec. 9 to Jan. 3. Present was the theatre’s artistic director, Jillian Keiley, with her darling of a daughter, Josie Ellis, three.

Jillian Keiley, artistic director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre, addressed the crowd at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of the arts organization PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.

Josie Ellis, 3, shares a laugh with actress Mary Ellis as the White Queen at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party while sitting with her mother, theatre director Jillian Keiley from the NAC.

Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Katherine Hobbs donned a lid that looked very Cruella de Vil (she didn’t dare wear it that morning when she attended the Ottawa Humane Society’s walkathon and run). Meanwhile, organizer Catherine Lindquist showed off couture from Ottawa’s newest hat designer, the Saucy Milliner.

Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Katherine Hobbs, in a Cruella de Vil-style hat, with Margaret Torrance at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in support of the non-profit arts organization PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 at the historic Bayne-Morrison House.

From left, organizer Catherine Lindquist with Algonquin College’s new president, Cheryl Jensen, at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at the historic Bayne-Morrison House.

Also sighted was Cheryl Jensen, the new president of Algonquin College. Its budding chefs from the culinary program provided the sandwiches and pastries for the fundraiser. Well-known arts patrons Glenn and Barbara McInnes — seen out late the night before by Around Town at the Tosca opera — were there in fine form. They hosted PAL Ottawa’s inaugural benefit last year.

Arts patrons Barbara and Glenn McInnes behind the looking glass at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at the historic Bayne-Morrison House.

The party featured live dance by Chelsea Passmore and music by harpist Heather Flinn. Guests were also entertained by a series of vignettes performed by Gracie Orr as Alice, actresses Kate Hurman and Mary Ellis as the Red and White Queens, actor Richard Gélinas as the March Hare and Jabberwocky and actor Scott Florence as the Mad Hatter.

From left, Gracie Orr plays the role of Alice with actresses Mary Ellis and Kate Hurman as the White and Red Queens at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in support of PAL Ottawa, held Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.

Actor Richard Gelinas performed as the March Hare at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at the historic Bayne-Morrison House.

Gélinas and Florence together auctioned off a pair of primo tickets to the NAC’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, a trip for two to Vivianna Day Spa and a three-hour private painting class with Jerry Grey. The actors did such a wonderful but wacky job that even made the Mad Hatter seem sane.

From left, Nancy Oakley, outgoing general manager of the GCTC, with visual artist Jerry Grey at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.

From left, Hali Krawchuk and Catherine Lindquist try their hand at croquet during The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at the historic Bayne-Morrison House.

Canterbury High dance teacher Jean Bellefleur gives actress Bekah Shirey a friendly peck on the cheek at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.

Bill and Denise Stevens were among the many guests to dress up for The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at the historic Bayne-Morrison House.

From left, Victoria Steele, executive director of the AOE Arts Council, with actress Sarah McVie at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at the historic Bayne-Morrison House.

Theatre director Jim McNabb with dancer Chelsea Passmore at The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in support of the new arts organization PAL Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.

Next up for PAL is a Nov. 23 benefit performance at the Ottawa Little Theatre. The play, The Railway Children, is being directed by Jim McNabb.

Here’s a fact you can take to heart: cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Canadian women. The sold-out 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic took a swing at changing all that by raising $110,000 for women’s heart health last Monday at the Loch March golf course in Kanata.

Blessed with warm weather and sunny skies, golfers participated in what’s quite possibly the most enjoyable women’s charity golf tournament in town. Some of the extras included massages, warm-up yoga, mini cosmetic makeovers and champagne.

The closest-to-the-purse hole was a real hit, mostly due to the prize: a designer Michael Kors bag.

“You couldn’t have asked for nicer weather,” Mary Browne, who was back with Marion Martell to co-chair the event for their 6th year, said at the cocktail hour. “Everything was perfect. Lots of cheers and happy women on the course.”

From left, Loch March golf pro Danielle Nadon with businesswoman Barbara Farber at the 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic, held Sept. 8, 2014, at Loch March for the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre.

Guest speaker Robyn Houle is flanked by event co-chairs Marion Martell, left, and Mary Browne at the 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic held Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Loch March golf course in support of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre.

Proceeds from the fundraiser are going toward the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation’s creation of the first Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre.

The dinner, MCed by CTV’s Lianne Laing, included honourary chair Jeanne Fuller. Close at her side was her son, Mark Fuller, owner of Loch March and a member of the prominent Thomas Fuller Construction family, and his auctioneer wife, Diana.

From left, Jean Spicer, Lesley Holmes, Krista Kealey and Shannon Lambert “clean up good” after golfing in the 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic for the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, held Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Loch March.

From left, Phyllis Bergmans, Karen Winterstein, Jennifer Moir and Sarah Miller enjoy some champagne at the 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic, held Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Loch March golf course in support of women’s heart health.

From left, Olive Mirchandani, Joni Campbell, Wendy Darwin and Natalie McGuire wore the colour du jour – red – at the 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic for women’s heart health, held Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Loch March.

The evening saw more than 50 raffle prizes given away. Live auction items included concert tickets to The Black Keys and Fleetwood Mac and a shopping trip to New York City.

Speakers included Robyn Houle, a married mother of two from Brockville. She didn’t look like the kind of woman to require angioplasty and bypass surgeries. Serious heart disease runs in her family and, fortunately, she was made aware of that risk factor. She knew what signs to look for and was able to seek medical attention, beginning in her 30s.

“Once you sort of go through something like this, you can’t ever trust indigestion as just being indigestion or an ache somewhere in your upper body as just an ache,” she told Around Town.

From left, Kathy White, Lillian Smith, Gail Blake and Meredithe Rechan relax over cocktails after a day of golfing in the 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic for women’s heart health, held Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Loch March.

Lynda Palmer gets a free P’rminerals makeover from makeup artist Rosario Lavy after a day of golfing in the 8th Annual Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic for women’s heart health, held Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Loch March.

The last time Around Town saw Chris Neil, he was busy pouring wine for guests with his attractive wife, Caitlin, at a charity function for terminally ill children.

There he was again Thursday with alcohol in his hands, except this time it was beer from Central Bierhaus, a new Bavarian-inspired gastro-sports pub in Kanata owned by him and his friends.

Neil is a popular player with the Ottawa Senators. While he may be a veteran of that team, he’s admittedly a “rookie” at running a beer house and sports hall. Some of his 10 partners really know the biz, though. “It’s been a fun experience for me,” he told Around Town at the grand opening party.

As a tip of the helmet to teammate Chris Phillips, the new pub is serving some beer from Phillips’s Big Rig.

Out to support Neil were Sens president Cyril Leeder and coach Paul MacLean, both of whom liked what they saw. “It’s a really interesting, cool spot,” said Leeder. “It’s different: beer and bratwurst.”

Ottawa Senators president Cyril Leeder and his wife, Lydia, were out on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, to support the grand opening of the Central Bierhaus gastro-sports pub partly owned by Sens player Chris Neil.

Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean and his wife, Sharon, were out on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, to support the grand opening of the Central Bierhaus gastro-sports pub partly owned by Sens player Chris Neil.

From left, servers Kurt Baker and Mitch Cole served up some bratwurst on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at the grand opening of the Central Bierhaus gastro-sports pub in Kanata.

West-end city councillors Allan Hubley (Kanata South Ward) and Marianne Wilkinson (Kanata North Ward) attended the grand opening party on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, of the new Kanata gastro-sports pub, Central Bierhaus, partly owned by Ottawa Senators player Chris Neil.

That’s one large-sized soft pretzel being held by Chef Chris Juneau on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at the grand opening party for Central Bierhaus, a new Bavarian-inspired gastro-sports pub in Kanata.

From left, Coun. Allan Hubley, Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. Marianne Wilkinson presented a framed certificate of congratulations on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, to Ottawa Senators player Chris Neil and his co-owners of the new gastro-sports pub, Central Bierhaus, in Kanata.

Melanie Desjardins gets ready to serve these two large mugs of beer to customers at the grand opening party for the new Kanata gastro-sports pub, Central Bierhouse, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014.

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Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, is what you’d call a hugger. He gave a friendly embrace to each and every individual he met at the top donor dinner reception held at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s annual campaign kickoff Sunday.

It didn’t matter if you were a man, a woman or a bank executive (for the record, TD Bank V-P Doug Feasby happily reciprocated).

“I’m converting over to hugging,” Greenfield joked after giving me the kind of squeeze that left me basking in the warm and fuzzy afterglow.

Greenfield — clad in a cow-patterned neck tie — spoke that night to roughly 600 people at Centrepointe Theatre about the philanthropic philosophy behind the successful ice cream business he created with his partner, Ben Cohen. Nobody was left screaming for ice cream, by the way. Free tasters were given out to audience members of such popular Ben & Jerry’s flavours as Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Salted Caramel Blondie and Phish Food.

From left, keynote speaker Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, with Doug Feasby from sponsor TD Bank at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s annual campaign kickoff, held Sunday, September 14, 2014, at Centrepointe Theatre.

At the reception, Greenfield told Around Town he was having “a wonderful time” in our nation’s capital. “I thought it was going to be fun but it’s surpassed my expectations,” said Greenfield, who drove to Ottawa from his home state of Vermont, enjoying the scenery along the way.

The desserts were irresistible at the top donor dinner reception held during the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s annual campaign kickoff, on Sunday, September 14, 2014, at Centrepointe Theatre.

Caterer David Smith from Creative Koshing recruited his sister, Anna Silverman, to help with the top donor dinner reception.

The kickoff was chaired by Susan Viner Vered and Gillie Vered. Leiba Krantzberg is back for her second year to co-chair the annual campaign. Joining her is Jeffrey Miller, a partner at accounting firm GGFL (Ginsberg Gluzman Fage & Levitz).

from left, Jeffrey Miller, Andrea Freedman, Leiba Krantzberg, Jerry Greenfield, Susan Viner Vered and Gillie Vered.

Also on hand were the federation’s president and CEO, Andrea Freedman, and its board chair, businessman Steven Kimmel.

From left, Jeffrey Miller, Andrea Freedman, keynote speaker Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s, Leiba Krantzberg and Steven Kimmel at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s annual campaign kickoff.

The funds raised through the campaign help the JFO’s 23 partner agencies meet the needs of the Jewish community, mostly in Ottawa but also in Israel. Last year, the campaign raised $4.2 million.

From left, lawyer Stephen Victor, a prominent member of the Ottawa Jewish community, with businessman Steven Kimmel, chair of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, at the federation’s annual campaign kickoff, held Sunday, September 14, 2014, at Centrepointe Theatre.

It was quite the posh penthouse party on Wednesday for the 210 guests who made their way up to the top floor of 700 Sussex Drive to attend a big event organized for Hospice Care Ottawa and its upcoming Homes for the Holidays tour.

Property owners Tom d’Aquino and Susan Peterson d’Aquino; Zita Cobb; and Gabi and Annalee Szabadi opened up their pricey pads in an effort to help get the word out about the community-based charitable organization that provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill people living in Ottawa.

Gail Joynt agreed to chair the benefit because she felt the evening could bump up awareness and support for a cause she really cares about. “Not everybody understands what the Hospice does free of charge,” she told Around Town.

The over-sold-out crowd was invited to roam the top floor of the luxury condo building and check out the three deluxe digs (the d’Aquinos actually live in Rockcliffe Park and use their apartment as an office and guest space). There was wine and champagne to wash down all the wonderful hors d’oeuvres and desserts provided by sponsors Farm Boy and Thyme & Again Catering.

From Cobb’s terrace, one could enjoy views of the Ottawa River and National Gallery, seen through a burst of bubbles coming from a machine (the wet weather kind of burst the, um, bubble on that fun idea, though.)

“It’s pretty spectacular being in homes like these,” said Virginia Vince, owner of Bloomfields Flowers, one of the local florists decorating a Homes for the Holidays residence. “They have similar footprints and yet each one has its own flavour and style.”

Guests could also bid on many unique and experiential auction items, whether it be riding through the Gatineau hills on a Harley-Davidson or staying for a couple of nights at Cobb’s unique Fogo Island Inn off the coast of Newfoundland (it sold for $3,000.)

Jim Taggart, chairman of Taggart Group of Companies, and his wife, Jane Panet, are honourary co-chairs of the Homes for the Holidays 2014 tour headed by volunteers Karen Junke and Laura Chapman.

The fundraiser will see eight gorgeous and seasonally decorated homes in Kanata, Island Park/Wellington West, the Glebe and Rockcliffe open their doors to the ticket-buying public on Nov. 14, 15 and 16. For more information, visit hospicecareottawa.ca.